WikiLeaks' Assange Mocks Obama Over Free Speech

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks during a teleconference from the Ecuadoran Embassy in London on September 26.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has mocked U.S. President Barack Obama for supporting freedom of speech in the Middle East while "persecuting" his organization.

Speaking via the Internet from the Ecuadoran Embassy in London on September 26, Assange called his own experience evidence that Obama has "done more to criminalize free speech than any other U.S. president."

The video link was to a meeting organized by Ecuador on the sidelines of world leaders' addresses to the UN General Assemby in New York.

Assange has been in the Ecuadoran complex since June to avoid extradition to Sweden to face rape and sexual-assault allegations.

Assange claims that the Swedish case is part of a Washington-orchestrated plot to make him stand trial in the United States.

WikiLeaks published thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables and other documents.


Based on reporting by AP and Reuters